I have decided that I will no longer use the headphone output of the macbook pro due to its unforgivable poor quality, artifacts and hiss. Although I have a multiface for the desktop I would like to go the firewire route on the macbook pro. RME firewire options are quite overpriced in my opinion and based on this forum as well as research I think that MOTU is the way to go for firewire on the mac. My question is between an ultralite, traveler and the new 828mk3 that I have just discovered. I am thinking it would be nice to have an interface that matches the macbook pro, that I could put under the macbook pro and that would match its form factor. I am wondering if this is a good idea or not due to heat concerns? Does anyone do this on a daily basis?
How about students, does anyone carry their MOTU interface in a backpack daily, what kind of case do you have for it.
I was impressed by the pricepoint and appearance/features of the 828mk3 however I read that this is not buspowered, is this true? I could not seem to download a .pdf of the manual.
Finally, I see that many people are very happy with the ultralite, does anyone regret this and wish they had bought a traveler or 828mk3?
thank you for your help with this research.
taikowaza
can i place the macbook pro on top of a motu interface(heat)
Ultralite:
The ultralite is exactly that - light - it lacks all the fancy features of the traveler and the 828, all the adat i/o etc is gone. It is however built pretty much like a tank - that is other than the buttons, they don't look like they would fall of unless you really knocked them, but they are just normal rotary/button things. mine has survived being taken round gigs in a box, its not racked or anything, but I'd probably be careful about how it was packed in a bag.
I really like it, it works well for me, it sounds good and has the features I want.
In terms of sticking a laptop on top of it - not a chance its too small, you'd knock it off typing.
The ultralite is exactly that - light - it lacks all the fancy features of the traveler and the 828, all the adat i/o etc is gone. It is however built pretty much like a tank - that is other than the buttons, they don't look like they would fall of unless you really knocked them, but they are just normal rotary/button things. mine has survived being taken round gigs in a box, its not racked or anything, but I'd probably be careful about how it was packed in a bag.
I really like it, it works well for me, it sounds good and has the features I want.
In terms of sticking a laptop on top of it - not a chance its too small, you'd knock it off typing.
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hacktheplanet
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I have gigged a bunch with the Ultralite. I have tossed it in my mixer bag and backpack dozens of times and the knobs haven't broken off yet. I've bumped and jarred it quite a bit, and it still works just fine.
I do take care not to pack it in such a way that the knobs will get damaged, as they do feel a little weak. It sits in a separate part of my bag, which is padded and fairly snug so the Ultralite doesn't move around very much.
I do take care not to pack it in such a way that the knobs will get damaged, as they do feel a little weak. It sits in a separate part of my bag, which is padded and fairly snug so the Ultralite doesn't move around very much.
much appreciated
it seems that the mac users of the ableton forum have a liking for the ultralite.
that's really good to know. I am wondering how the reliability of the fireface400 would compare, is it as strongly built as the ultralite-
most important question between these two is the latency for playing virtual instruments in realtime while recording, I am a piano player and need low latency (low enough not to feel any lag while playing), could someone post a link of latency comparisons between firewire audio interfaces on mac, if there is such a thing? I am sure knowing the diligence of ableton live users that someone has performed such a comparison. thank you again for your time helping with this research, I will be making my decision this month and know ableton users put interfaces through the grueling tests of clubbing.
that's really good to know. I am wondering how the reliability of the fireface400 would compare, is it as strongly built as the ultralite-
most important question between these two is the latency for playing virtual instruments in realtime while recording, I am a piano player and need low latency (low enough not to feel any lag while playing), could someone post a link of latency comparisons between firewire audio interfaces on mac, if there is such a thing? I am sure knowing the diligence of ableton live users that someone has performed such a comparison. thank you again for your time helping with this research, I will be making my decision this month and know ableton users put interfaces through the grueling tests of clubbing.
I've placed my MBP on top of my Ultralite before, as long as you're not bumping your laptop around, it'll work. Latency is fine, identical to the FF400 on that front. Honestly, if this is for live use, I'd say get the ultralite over the FF400. The FF probably is slightl better overall sound, but it's almost twice as much money and not as solid IMO.
tarekith
https://tarekith.com
https://tarekith.com
i think the ultralite is great.
actually thinking of upgrading to a Traveler or an 828 mk3, since lately i've been finding myself needing more inputs than the UL offers.
was also wondering about the whole "MBP on top of the interface" thing. I've seen people do it here and there and have always wondered how safe it is in terms of heat and such.
So it seems it wouldnt be a problem
That's very good news, as my desk space is actually pretty limted ATM
actually thinking of upgrading to a Traveler or an 828 mk3, since lately i've been finding myself needing more inputs than the UL offers.
was also wondering about the whole "MBP on top of the interface" thing. I've seen people do it here and there and have always wondered how safe it is in terms of heat and such.
So it seems it wouldnt be a problem
That's very good news, as my desk space is actually pretty limted ATM-
Pitch Black
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I think everyone else has summed up the sound and feature differences of the Ultralight and FF400 well, but I would like to say from personal experience that the FF400 is built like a fuckin tank. Mine has spent 2 years in a non-shock absorbing SKB rack and been mis-handled by airline baggage handlers about 20 flights a year.
The front knob snapped off when the whole rack-front got stoved in once, but everything else continues to work perfectly.
One other thing I like about it for gigs is that it will happily let Live and the MBP go into sleep when I close the screen, then wake up rearing to go every time - no thumps, no glitches, no lost of connection etc. V. reliable.
2c
The front knob snapped off when the whole rack-front got stoved in once, but everything else continues to work perfectly.
One other thing I like about it for gigs is that it will happily let Live and the MBP go into sleep when I close the screen, then wake up rearing to go every time - no thumps, no glitches, no lost of connection etc. V. reliable.
2c
MBP M1Max | Sonoma 14.7 | Live 12.1 | Babyface Pro FS | Push 3T | clump of controllers
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